Thread: Tensioner snapping off the mount TDV6

yup I know its a Blue oval hiding behind a Green oval!!


Still think that given LR put out a replacement oil pump housing that it should have been a recall or at the very least replace the housing when the belts are done.


When mine was coming off lease I approached LR dealer about getting the belts repalced and they were insistent that the belts were not on the service schedule and did not get replaced, I asked them that several times over a few months.


Indies have told me the opposite and that of course the belts must be replaced at 80,000 I think it is.


Surely LR have a case to answer with all the destroyed engines as a result of this bracket failing??


Can I put my hard hat and boxing gloves away now?

It is not just Land Rover housings failing either - quick Google showed that the Citroen 2.7 HDi suffers the same problem. I don't think the housing was a LR initiative, but rather a Ford/PSA part that superceded the original one which of course filtered down to JLR.

It's true Justin, there have been failures in the other brands that use the engine, however, they have not been as numerous as in the D3/D4/RRS.

There has been much discussion on Disco3 about the reasons why. The survey that was conducted on Disco3 found that the majority of failures (approximately two thirds of cases) was after the belt change service. So why would an engine fail that has run without issue for 7 years or 150,000km? The extra tension of a fresh belt, and new tensioner, on an aluminium part that has been heated and cooled thousands of times over it's life perhaps?

But also, the TDV6 in the D3/D4/RRS is the heaviest vehicle that it powers, by several hundred kilos. And on top of that, large numbers of owners use their vehicles to tow. So it goes from powering a car weighing 1500kg, to pulling something with a GVM of 6.7tonnes!

As for a recall, I would highly doubt it would ever happen. For a kick off, they don't have a recall in the UK, where the market is a little larger, and hence more sensitive than Australia. Secondly, most of the vehicles that this failure is happening to are 7 years old, and have dropped out of the dealer servicing network.
Those with a good dealer relationship may stand a chance of getting some sort of assistance from LRA, but given that LRA seem to be a little more "hard nosed" than their UK equivalent (and this is based on anecdotal evidence, rather than personal experience), your chances may well still be low.

Just goes to show how wrong you can be without seeing the actual issue.
I always thought that the block was alloy and a bit was broken out by the pump failing.
So the block should still be good and the damage is to the Pistons from valves hitting.
I saw a while ago that there were rebuild c
Kits becoming available in UK.
Regards Philip A

I think if the part that screwed into the housing was just an idler pulley the part would last the life of the vehicle BUT the tensioner is spring loaded and absorbs some of the harmonics so the fatigue eventually over comes it.


I fitted the upgraded housing but you could likely use a NEW old style housing when replacing the timing belt and it would last till the next change.


I changed mine at 132,000ks but it was 8 yrs old so the belt was due. A friend crack tests metal and I got him to look at mine and he couldn't see any cracks with his machine , but it wasn't a chance I was going to take.


Cheers Ean

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Just goes to show how wrong you can be without seeing the actual issue.
I always thought that the block was alloy and a bit was broken out by the pump failing.
So the block should still be good and the damage is to the Pistons from valves hitting.
I saw a while ago that there were rebuild c
Kits becoming available in UK.
Regards Philip A

There are repair parts finally becoming available at a less unreasonable price than they were. A set of main and big end bearings can now be had under $800, where previously they were Lotto win money.

You could now replace all crankcase internals (excluding crankshaft), valves, rockers, seals and gaskets for about $3300 in parts. And with labour and machining on top, and it's probably still a better bet getting a Territory engine.

Originally Posted by Ean Austral

I fitted the upgraded housing but you could likely use a NEW old style housing when replacing the timing belt and it would last till the next change.

Cheers Ean

I had wondered that Ean but decided not to try...

Originally Posted by Narangga

I had wondered that Ean but decided not to try...

Can you still get the old style ?


Cheers Ean